Nuclear Security Threat Continues

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, stated that the risk of a nuclear accident due to the war between Ukraine and Russia is still serious and that nuclear power plants operating for peaceful purposes should not be targeted, regardless of where and under what conditions.

Speaking at the opening of the 68th General Conference of the IAEA, which will last for five days in Vienna, the capital of Austria, Grossi touched upon the Agency’s work in the last year.

Grossi noted that 700 million people around the world go to bed hungry every night, and that not only the IAEA but all United Nations (UN) institutions underlined this fact, and that as an institution, they implemented the “nuclear for food” project in order to ensure food security.

“200 thousand people will get cancer in 5 days”

Grossi, who stated that the conference will last for 5 days, said, “During this 5-day period, according to statistics, 200 thousand people worldwide will be informed that they have cancer. Especially in developing countries, this information will not even be shared because they will not be aware of it. The vast majority of these people will lose their lives. These people will most likely lose their lives from a type of cancer that is treatable and has a chance of recovery.”

Grossi emphasized that the situation he outlined is the main motivation for the “Raise Hope” Project, which they carry out in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

Grossi, drawing attention to the fact that environmental pollution and climate change are among the main challenges facing the world, said that nuclear energy should be accepted as an energy source that does not harm the environment.

Grossi noted that the war in Ukraine was still ongoing and the risk of a nuclear accident was still high, and explained the work the institution had done in the last two years to prevent a possible accident at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Drawing attention to the increasing risk due to recent attacks and conflicts against nuclear power plants, Grossi said, “No peaceful nuclear power plant can be attacked under any circumstances and wherever it is located.”

Emphasis on solving problems with Iran

Grossi said he was looking forward to meeting with the new administration regarding Iran’s nuclear activities, and stressed the importance of continuing their efforts to provide reliable assurance to the international community that the country’s nuclear activities are peaceful and moving in this direction.

Grossi said that there were various difficulties and that these were not issues that could not be solved.

Iran responds to Israel over Gaza

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Islami, also said that the new government in his country is ready for professional cooperation on the international level regarding nuclear energy.

Stating that the world is currently facing serious problems, Islami said that as a result of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, more than 41 thousand civilians, mostly women and children, lost their lives and more than 100 thousand people were injured.

“Israel continues its genocide”

“Israel continues to shamelessly commit war crimes and commit genocide with the support of the US and some countries. We cannot ignore the genocide targeting innocent people,” said Islami, adding that the Tel Aviv administration was openly acting against UN resolutions and international law.

Islami reminded that now more than ever, there is a need for the Middle East to be a nuclear weapons-free zone, but Israel is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

At the conference, Russian and Ukrainian speakers traded accusations over nuclear security.